Arabic Virtual Academy

Nose drops, eye drops and ear drops while fasting

Question:

What is the ruling about ear drops, eye drops and nose drops for the fasting person?

Answer:

Nose drops, when they reach the stomach, they they break a persons fast. This is known by the hadeeth where the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said, “When making cleaning out your nose (in wudoo), make the water go all the way up your nose except while fasting” (narrated by Abi Dawood, at Tirmadhi, an Nasaa’i and Ibn Maajah). Therefore it is not permissible for the fasting person to used these nose drops if they reach his stomach. The ones that do not reach the stomach then they do not break ones fast.

As far as the eye drops, as well as kuhl and ear drops, they they do not break ones fast. This is because there is no proof for this. Also, they don’t carry the same meaning as that which is mentioned in the proof. The eye and ear are not places for eating or drinking just like many other places in the body. The people of knowledge has said that if someone is stuck in his foot with something and get from it some kind of taste in his throat, then his fast is not broken because of this. This is because it is not a place of eating and drinking. So therefore, the one that uses kuhl or drops in his eye or ear is not someone that has broken his fast, even if he gets a taste in his throat as a result of it. Also, this is applied to the one that uses cream that is applied to the body, whether it be as a cure or not, it does not harm the fast. As well, the person that is having a hard time breathing and he uses that gas that helps them to breath, then their fast is not effected, as this does not reach into their stomach, and it is neither food or drink.